Ion Perez
Benigno Dungo Perez (born November 27, 1990), popularly known as Ion Perez (Tagalog: [ˈɐjon ˈpɛrɛs]), is a Filipino actor, model, and television host. He is best known as the Kuya Escort in the Miss Q and A segment of It's Showtime.
Ion Perez | |
---|---|
Born | Benigno Dungo Perez November 27, 1990[1] |
Nationality | Filipino |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2018–present |
Partner | Vice Ganda (2018–present) |
Website | Ion Perez on Instagram |
He is a regular host on ABS-CBN's noontime variety show It's Showtime.
Early life
Perez is the 11th of 15 siblings with his father a jeepney driver and his mother a kakanin vendor.[2] According to some of his interviews from the past, he was bullied when he was younger because of his lanky frame. As a response, he motivated himself to get fit and take care of himself.[3][4]
He used to help his parents run a poultry shop inside a wet market. After developing muscles, Perez often went shirtless as a marketing tactic to help draw in customers to his parents' stall.[4][5]
Career
Perez works as a model having been featured in the bachelors list of Cosmopolitan Philippines fashion magazine.[6] He also participated in pageants. Perez was among the winners of the 2017 Misters of Filipinas and was the winner of the 2018 Mister Universe Tourism. His victories in pageants led him to more opportunities in his modelling career.[4] He was initially hesitant to join pageants. It took three years of convincing from his manager for him to enter pageants.[4]
Perez first joined ABS-CBN's It's Showtime in September 2018 to audition for the "Kuya Escort" role. He secured the role and eventually became a co-host in the show.[4][7][8]
Personal life
On October 19, 2021, Perez and Vice Ganda had a commitment ceremony at The Little Vegas Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.[9] In 2018, he first appeared on It's Showtime, but already previously worked with Vice on the latter’s talk show, Gandang Gabi Vice.[3]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2018–2019 | It's Showtime | Himself, Kuya Escort in "Miss Q and A" segment | [10] |
2020–present | Himself, co-host | [11] |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | The Mall, The Merrier | Pose Bastardos Leader "Richard" | [12] | |
2020 | Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim | Einstein | [13] | |
2021 | Kaka | Levi Sales | First Lead role in a film | [14] |
2022 | Partners in Crime | Motorcycle Max | [15] |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 5th RAWR Awards | Breakthrough Artist of the Year | It's Showtime | Won | [16][17] |
2021 | 2nd VP Choice Awards | Promising Male Star of the Year | Nominated | [18] |
References
- Franco, Chris (November 27, 2020). "Vice Ganda, sinorpresa ang boyfriend na si Ion Perez sa kanyang kaarawan" [Vice Ganda, made a surprise for boyfriend Ion Perez on his birthday]. MSN Entertainment (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- "6 Things to Know About Kuya Escort Ion Perez". PEP.ph. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- Monde, Jeal (June 30, 2020). "Ion Perez Biography: Real Name, Career, Personal Life, & Other Details". Philippine News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- "Who is Ion Perez? 7 facts about the 'special' man in Vice Ganda's life". ABS-CBN News. April 1, 2019. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- "Vice Ganda flexes tandem with Ion Perez amid calls for his expulsion from 'It's Showtime'". Manila Bulletin. May 28, 2021. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- "Ion Perez: from Kakanin Boy to It's Showtime Kuya Escort". PEP.ph. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- "From being Mr. Universe Tourism '18 to "Kuya Escort": These Photos proved that Ion deserves a spot on Showtime". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- Raymundo, Isabelle Francez. "From Mr. Universe Tourism 2018 to 'Kuya Escort': 12 photos that proved Ion Perez deserves a spot on It's Showtime!". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- CNN Philippines Staff (February 14, 2022). "Vice Ganda, Ion Perez 'get married' in Las Vegas". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
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has generic name (help) - "Amid the call to remove Ion Perez in the show, Vice Ganda boosts the already trending ViceIon". LionhearTV. May 28, 2021. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- Franco, Chris (May 25, 2021). "Ion Perez returns on 'It's Showtime'; stuns co-hosts with his new hairstyle". Kami.com.ph - Philippines news. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- Hallare, Katrina (July 10, 2019). "First 4 official entries to MMFF 2019 bared". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- Anarcon, James Patrick (November 24, 2020). "10 MMFF 2020 entries revealed; Vice-Ivana, Joshua Garcia movies out". PEP.PH. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- Salterio, Leah C. (January 27, 2021). "Sunshine Guimary promises to go 'all out' in her launching movie 'Kaka'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- "'Eksaherada!' Vice Ganda, real-life partner Ion Perez draw huge crowd at 'Partners In Crime' screening". ABS-CBN News. December 27, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- "Full List Of Winners of the RAWR Awards 2019". Lionheartv. November 15, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- "It's Showtime: Ion, naiyak sa natanggap niyang award". ABS-CBN Entertainment. November 15, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- "Here's the full list of winners for the 2nd VP Choice Awards". Village Pipol. March 6, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2023.